Audiences show local nonprofits how much they ‘Give a Bleep’

This year’s “Giving a Bleep: The Show,” which addressed the Treasure ballot measure, raised a little more than $10,000 that will be distributed to 33 local nonprofits.

Local residents put their money where their hearts were when they attended "Giving a Bleep: The Show" this year.

The musical farce, which was produced by Giving a Bleep, a nonprofit that raises money for other nonprofits, pulled in just over $10,000 over its Oct. 26-27 and Nov. 2-3 runs at the Prospector Theatre, said Annette Velarde, executive director of the show.

"I was encouraged this year because the average price patrons paid per seat was up," she said. "We were up at $22 a seat as compared to $20 in the past."

After Velarde organizes all the credit card charges and fees, she will start distributing checks to the nonprofits the show benefited.

"There were 33 nonprofits that were on the list this year," she said. "They ranged from the more well-known nonprofits like Peace House and Mountain Trails Foundation, to smaller ones like EATS Park City and the Bicycle Collective in Provo. This year these small nonprofits that aren't on many people's radar was able to get some money, and that made my heart sing."

The money was raised through ticket sales. Ticket buyers got to decide how much they wanted to pay for a ticket and which nonprofit they wanted their money to benefit, Velarde said.

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In addition, the money donated through Giving a Bleep can be used for anything the nonprofits see fit, she said.

"A lot of grant money nonprofits receive are allocated for specific programs, but that's not the case with our funds," she said. "We give them unrestricted funds, and that makes me happy."

Velarde allows audience members to choose their admission fee for inclusivity – even if they can't drop three or four figures on donations.

"One of our organization's purposes is to let everyone know that they are all welcome to see the show even if they can't donate anything," she said. "The foundation of our organization is philanthropy without wealth. So just having them come is supporting what we're doing on stage. They are giving emotional support and their time."

The Nov. 2 show drew the largest audience this year.

"A sellout crowd is 250 and we had more than that," Velarde said. "We had to set up extra rows of chairs in the front, the back. We also had to set chairs up on each side of the rows. And the cast could feel the energy."

For the 2018 edition of 'Giving a Bleep,' the script, which is adapted to the events of each year, addressed the Treasure ballot measure, which overwhelmingly passed in the 2018 midterm and ended three decades of controversy in Park City. The measure the Tuesday after the show's final curtain call. The vote will fund a $64 million City Hall land deal that will keep land overlooking Old Town clear of large-scale developments.

"It was great to highlight something that was purely local and something that was purely preserving one of the most valuable aspects of the community," Velarde said. "Open space is something that sets us apart from other places in the state."

The director is already planning next year's show.

"Because of the schedule this year coincided with Halloween and other fundraising events, we are looking at moving the performance up to mid-October or moving it back to mid-November next year," she said. "It will all depend on people's ability to attend rehearsals."

Velarde said she and the rest of the cast are continually looking for people to join the show, and that anyone who wants to participate next year can email annettevelarde@mac.com.

"I keep their request and when we get closer to the first readthrough, I will shoot them an email," she said. "One thing we need to make clear is that there is no (acting) talent required. The only thing we want is for people to show up."

An earlier version of this story misstated the venue “Giving a Bleep” was performed as the Egyptian Theatre. The performance was held at the Prospector Theatre.